Michael Lewis (asks for release)

Originally posted by Shaj:
very classy, but don't assume you know what happened behind the scenes.

My guess? Baalke had a heart to heart with him and said "as of now, you're going to get cut. You're a great player, but this is a business, and it's a numbers game. We want you on the team this year, but we can't do it at that price. Here's what we need from you to make it happen. And it'll be a win for you too - play your heart out this year, and you'll land a nice deal next year from the highest bidder."

no way that was what happened he is clearly the best SS on our team as of now you saw what happened when reggie smith tried to play SS and mays still has to have a lot of work done lewis is the clear cut starter and best option at SS as of the beginning of this season

He has $6.584M in bonus money remaining, after 2010.

So, if cut after 2010, in the 2011 offseason if no re-do of his deal, we would take a 6.584M dead money hit, and save about $4.584M in 2011, and in 2012 and 2013 we save $11.167M and $11.27M

Originally posted by Gore_21:
Nate Clements should be next...
So in 2007 he signs the infamous "8 year , $80 million contract" with 22.6 guaranteed.

2010: $6 million

Say we cut him after the above year...
2011: $7.25 million
2012: $9 million,
2013: $10.77 million,
2014 $15.48 million (Voided Year), so that turns it into a 7 year 64.02 million

We cut him after 2010 all of a sudden it was a 4 year deal worth like 37 million which doesn't sound as bad a the original 8 year 80 million that everyone was so fascinated with. AB will have to give us the correct figures if my info is off.

You can never have to many players like this on your team. Willing to risk his long term health with another head shot and give back some money to help out.

Now let's give that money to VD and get his azz signed long term.

Originally posted by jreff22:

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:
Why would he do that? Personally speaking??

Reality and Generosity. He has seen the writing on the wall and doesn't want to be that guy that screws over the organization that has been good to him. He will bow out gracefully and either move on with another team or retire.....I think because of the numerous concussions this will be his last year. The man is in his early 30's and can still function properly, he's made a lot of money and can live life very easily.

got it. So if he were to get cut at the end of this season, he wouldn't get his 4.whatever millions anyway??

Originally posted by 49AllTheTime:
You guys say classy, but looks like he wants out.

Very well could be, but, to his credit, his approach makes it appear his intentions were benevolent.

I've always liked Michael Lewis. I wish more athletes could demonstrate what Lewis has with this gesture.

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:

Originally posted by jreff22:

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:
Why would he do that? Personally speaking??

Reality and Generosity. He has seen the writing on the wall and doesn't want to be that guy that screws over the organization that has been good to him. He will bow out gracefully and either move on with another team or retire.....I think because of the numerous concussions this will be his last year. The man is in his early 30's and can still function properly, he's made a lot of money and can live life very easily.

got it. So if he were to get cut at the end of this season, he wouldn't get his 4.whatever millions anyway??

When he signed he got 10 mil guaranteed. Still trying to find what he signed for but it was a 5 year deal. Since he terminated his last two years he wouldn't get the 5.6 and 6.7 mil from them. He would get 1.7 this year instead of 4.1.

Originally posted by 49ersalldaway126:

Originally posted by Shaj:
very classy, but don't assume you know what happened behind the scenes.

My guess? Baalke had a heart to heart with him and said "as of now, you're going to get cut. You're a great player, but this is a business, and it's a numbers game. We want you on the team this year, but we can't do it at that price. Here's what we need from you to make it happen. And it'll be a win for you too - play your heart out this year, and you'll land a nice deal next year from the highest bidder."

no way that was what happened he is clearly the best SS on our team as of now you saw what happened when reggie smith tried to play SS and mays still has to have a lot of work done lewis is the clear cut starter and best option at SS as of the beginning of this season

why do you say no way? You think he woke up one morning and said "you know what, I think I'll offer this team a pay cut!"?

I guess that means next year we will have a couple of new safeties playing.

Originally posted by Gore_21:

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:

Originally posted by jreff22:

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:
Why would he do that? Personally speaking??

Reality and Generosity. He has seen the writing on the wall and doesn't want to be that guy that screws over the organization that has been good to him. He will bow out gracefully and either move on with another team or retire.....I think because of the numerous concussions this will be his last year. The man is in his early 30's and can still function properly, he's made a lot of money and can live life very easily.

got it. So if he were to get cut at the end of this season, he wouldn't get his 4.whatever millions anyway??

When he signed he got 10 mil guaranteed. Still trying to find what he signed for but it was a 5 year deal. Since he terminated his last two years he wouldn't get the 5.6 and 6.7 mil from them. He would get 1.7 this year instead of 4.1.

exactly Gore_21.

He gets the 1.7M + 400K Bonus, and we save the 5.6M and 6.7M in 2011 and 2012.

He signed a 5yr/$30M deal i believe in 2007 when we signed him and Nate on day one.

Originally posted by AB83Rules:

Originally posted by Gore_21:

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:

Originally posted by jreff22:

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:
Why would he do that? Personally speaking??

Reality and Generosity. He has seen the writing on the wall and doesn't want to be that guy that screws over the organization that has been good to him. He will bow out gracefully and either move on with another team or retire.....I think because of the numerous concussions this will be his last year. The man is in his early 30's and can still function properly, he's made a lot of money and can live life very easily.

got it. So if he were to get cut at the end of this season, he wouldn't get his 4.whatever millions anyway??

When he signed he got 10 mil guaranteed. Still trying to find what he signed for but it was a 5 year deal. Since he terminated his last two years he wouldn't get the 5.6 and 6.7 mil from them. He would get 1.7 this year instead of 4.1.

exactly Gore_21.

He gets the 1.7M + 400K Bonus, and we save the 5.6M and 6.7M in 2011 and 2012.

He signed a 5yr/$30M deal i believe in 2007 when we signed him and Nate on day one.

Huge savings, next up is restructuring Nate's deal. Liking our chances to re-sign most of our guys now.

Originally posted by Shaj:

Originally posted by 49ersalldaway126:

Originally posted by Shaj:
very classy, but don't assume you know what happened behind the scenes.

My guess? Baalke had a heart to heart with him and said "as of now, you're going to get cut. You're a great player, but this is a business, and it's a numbers game. We want you on the team this year, but we can't do it at that price. Here's what we need from you to make it happen. And it'll be a win for you too - play your heart out this year, and you'll land a nice deal next year from the highest bidder."

no way that was what happened he is clearly the best SS on our team as of now you saw what happened when reggie smith tried to play SS and mays still has to have a lot of work done lewis is the clear cut starter and best option at SS as of the beginning of this season

why do you say no way? You think he woke up one morning and said "you know what, I think I'll offer this team a pay cut!"?

Yeah, you are probably right Shaj. I first commented on how I doubt the team would tell him to take a cut or he was gone. For all we know they asked if he would since they only expect him to play half the season or x amount of weeks before giving up his starting spot would you take half the salary? That being said that wouldn't explain him saying let's get rid of my last two years. So you are right I am sure the 49ers initiated it but Lewis still went along with it. It's a win win I guess then. Lewis gets 1.7+.4 in bonuses and we get a veteran starter until Mays is ready. Still, Michael went along with it... maybe he wants to be a part of this team, he could have easily said cut me... I'll find somewhere else or retire. He is risking another concussion and possible future brain damage.

Originally posted by znk916:

Originally posted by AB83Rules:

Originally posted by Gore_21:

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:

Originally posted by jreff22:

Originally posted by SybErkRimInAL:
Why would he do that? Personally speaking??

Reality and Generosity. He has seen the writing on the wall and doesn't want to be that guy that screws over the organization that has been good to him. He will bow out gracefully and either move on with another team or retire.....I think because of the numerous concussions this will be his last year. The man is in his early 30's and can still function properly, he's made a lot of money and can live life very easily.

got it. So if he were to get cut at the end of this season, he wouldn't get his 4.whatever millions anyway??

When he signed he got 10 mil guaranteed. Still trying to find what he signed for but it was a 5 year deal. Since he terminated his last two years he wouldn't get the 5.6 and 6.7 mil from them. He would get 1.7 this year instead of 4.1.

exactly Gore_21.

He gets the 1.7M + 400K Bonus, and we save the 5.6M and 6.7M in 2011 and 2012.

He signed a 5yr/$30M deal i believe in 2007 when we signed him and Nate on day one.

Huge savings, next up is restructuring Nate's deal. Liking our chances to re-sign most of our guys now.

Awesome, I thought it was some where in teh high 20's to 32 area. Yeah, we have been really doing some weeding lately between the players and now if we could start reworking contracts to get extra money for all those big name free agents coming up. I'm not sure we will even try to rework Clements contract. He would be around 32 if he played for us in 2011. He will have to show us something this year. We might be best to take that 6.5 or whatever hit and free up the 5, 11+ and 11+ million.

This is strange. The only scenario that makes sense to me is this:

49ers determine that another safety (Reggie Smith?) will be the starting safety over Michael Lewis. They don't want to pay starter money to a backup. They tell Michael he needs a pay cut or he will be cut from the team. Lewis gets a pay cut, and in exchange gets the final 2 years of his contract voided. If this scenario is correct, then expect someone else to start on Thursday.

The other scenario would be that Michael believes that he won't be a starter next year, but can be somewhere else. He wanted out early on his contract so offered a pay cut this year to have the final 2 years voided. IMO, this doesn't make much sense, as I don't think he has a better chance starting elsewhere.

One other thought. Since Michael is not signed next year, expect more safeties to make the 53 man roster (Curtis Taylor).

Originally posted by AB83Rules:
He has $6.584M in bonus money remaining, after 2010.

So, if cut after 2010, in the 2011 offseason if no re-do of his deal, we would take a 6.584M dead money hit, and save about $4.584M in 2011, and in 2012 and 2013 we save $11.167M and $11.27M

Originally posted by Gore_21:
Nate Clements should be next...
So in 2007 he signs the infamous "8 year , $80 million contract" with 22.6 guaranteed.

2010: $6 million

Say we cut him after the above year...
2011: $7.25 million
2012: $9 million,
2013: $10.77 million,
2014 $15.48 million (Voided Year), so that turns it into a 7 year 64.02 million

We cut him after 2010 all of a sudden it was a 4 year deal worth like 37 million which doesn't sound as bad a the original 8 year 80 million that everyone was so fascinated with. AB will have to give us the correct figures if my info is off.

Wow, I honestly don't see Clements on the team after this year.

On the other hand if he does take a pay pay cut, I could see him staying with us as a nickel back for the next 3-4 seasons. That could be good for both sides in the long run.